Spring for wind instruments



C. H. NORTON SPRING FOR WIND INSTRUMENTS Filed Nov. 1, 1924 Feb. 9 192s. 1,572,675

FIG.I.

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Way/iii av 4% T Q 7 8 INVENTOR WITNESSES 6 6 f/ aw mw 7- W Patented Feb. 9, 1926.

UNITED STATES CHARLES H. NOBTON, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

SPRING FOR WIND INSTRUMENTS.

Application filed November To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Crmniins H. N on'roN, residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, a citizen of the United States, have invented or discovered certain new and useful Improvements in Springs for Wind Instruments, of which improvements the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in springs for wind instruments, and particularly in the springs which are employed, to hold the stops in normal position, closing the finger-holes. Against the tension of these springs the muscular strength of the player of the instrument is exerted, to raise the stops in sequence, and so to cause the instrument to give forth the desired sequence of notes. My invention is applicable to wind-instruments generally; I shall, however, for purposes of illustration, show and describe it in its application to a saxophone. Its wider applicability will be understood without further description.

In the accompanying drawings Fig. I is a view in side elevation of a portion of the tube of a saxophone showing a stop covering a finger-hole in the tube, and showing, by vertical section in detail, my invention applied to the spring by which the stop in its movement is controlled. Fig. II is a view to larger scale, showing in section the spring with its mount.

In these drawings the saxophone tube is indicated at l; 2 is the plate, the essential and characteristic part of the stop, and it is shown in normal position as when covering a finger-hole in the tube. This plate 2 is carried on an arm 3 which extends rigidly from a rotatable shaft 4:. The shaft 4t at the end is rotatably borne by a post 5. From the shaft 4 extends a second arm 6, and from the post 5 extends a resilient rod 7. This rod engages the arm 6, and by its resiliency it restrains the turning of shaft 4 and holds plate 2 normally to its position of closure upon the finger-hole of the instrument.

The key which operates the stop is not shown, but it will be understood that pressure of the finger of the player of the instrument upon the key, turns the shaft 4 against the tension of the resilient rod 7, and raises the plate 52 from the finger-hole. .Vhen pressure upon the key is relieved, the plate closes 1, 1924. Serial No. 747,200.

the linger-hole again, under the tension of the spring 7.

My invention particularly concerns the mounting of spring 7 in post 5. Heretofore the rod which constitutes the spring has been secured by swedging its butt end into firm anchorage in an orifice drilled through post 5. My improvement consists in forming through post 5 an internally screw-threaded orifice, and in lnounting the rod 7 in an externally threaded base-block 8 and in screwing the mount to place, as clearly shown in Fig. I. The rods are preliminarily prepared by mounting them in base blocks, and they are applied and removed as there is need.

Among the advantages of my improvement are these:' The spring of the prior art can be removed and replaced only with great diliioulty; the operation takes time, and requires the use of special tools and appliances. Consequently, in case one of these springs breaks during a concert, the instrument is crippled, not only for the remainder of the concert, but for several days during which it must be surrendered to an instrument maker for repair. With my improvement, all that is needed for replacement and repair is a small screw-driver, and the user of the instrument, having supplied himself with a reserve spring or two,may, in case ofa broken spring, make his own replacement in the course of a few seconds, and without serious disturbance in the performance of the musical program in which he may be engaged.

The structure of the prior art admits of repair to a limited extent only, for with repeated replacements the orifice through post 5 is widened and enlarged to such adegree that more radical repair becomes necessary. My improvement avoids that dis-- advantage.

Some players prefer stiff springs, some soft. By the adoption of my improvement it becomes possible to adapt a particular instrument to the preference of a particular player. That is not possible with instru ments as hitherto equipped.

There is a wide range in the size of springs required, both in any given instrument and in the range of instruments of a given sort in ordinary use. My springs may be prepared in. advance, with the rods 7 mounted. in the hasahlocks 8, and in all the range of size and strength that may be anticipated, and are then readily applicable, and are interchangeable in their applicability, to suit the rising need. And in this respect the actual conditions of use are more adequately met.

In the choice of material the prior art was limited by the mode in which anchorage was efiected; the material had to be suited to that end also. Not only has it been very brittle, but it has been liable to lose its elasticity and the spring has been liable to lose its tension. I can choose material for the rod 7 best suited to s1i)ring-service, and regardless of mode of anchorage, and mount the rod in the base-block which serves to secure it to place. ThusI can and do employ spring steel of best quality. The mounting in the base-block is ordinarily effected merely by drilling a bore in the base-block and inserting the cylindrical end of the rod, the proportions being such as to afford a snug and secure fit.

The springs hitherto ordinarily employed are brittle and may not readily nor safely be bent, to effect variation in degree of tension. Not only does my invention byits feature of ready replaceability afford a satisactory way of reaching the same end but additionally, the material used in the rod 7 may be so chosen as to be flexible within a sufiicient range, and so variation in degree of tension may be had with safety, and to any necessary or desired degree.

The spring of my invention, otherwise ready for service, may be given any desired surface finish, by m'etal plating orotherwise, and may be applied and removed without injury to such finish.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a spring structure for a wind instrument'whiclrincludes a post and a shaft provided with an operating arm rotatably borne by said post, a base-block removably borne by said post, and a resilient rod borne by said base-block and adapted to engage the operating arm on the shaft first named.

2. In a spring structure for a wind instrument which includes a post and a shaft provided with an operating arm rotatably borne by said post, said post being provided with an internallyscrew-threaded perforation, an externally screw-threaded base-block removably seated in'such perforation in the post, and resilient rod borne by said block and adapted to engage the operating arm on the shaft first named.

3. In a spring structure for a wind instrument which includes a post and a shaft provided with an operating arm, rotatably borne by said post, said post being provided with an internally screw-threaded perforation, being a resilient rod externally screwthreaded at its base and remo vably seated in such perforation in the post and at its remote end adapted to engage the operating arm of the shaft first named.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

CHARLES H. NORTON. 

